A perpetual calendar of what to expect when you're NOT expecting.

My eldest daughter did recently, for the first time in her life, based on advice from a friend and guess what? Within 2 hours she was bleeding. That seemed surprisingly fast. *Esmerelda said she wasn’t due until Friday and here it was, Sunday night at 8.

Is this a little bit of magic or is is mere coincidence? Do you know? Do you have any experience with this, either first person on through the sisterhood?

I hadn’t heard this particular old wive’s tale until *Esmerelda asked me if I had, figuring if anybody would know about the miracle of parsley as it relates to a woman’s period, it would be me; a woman who’s business revolves around menstruation.

Nope. I had not an inkling of the power within this herb from the Mediterranean region. Right now thanks to the capricious and sometimes bitchy nature of Mother Nature, I can’t even experiment with it personally. How will I know if it works when I don’t know when my next period will come, or even if it will. Menopause is having a moment in my life.

So, I’m just sharing the very tiny anecdote and hope that should you find cause to try it, remember me, and share your findings.

Just get some dried parsley, place in a meshy tea infuser and let sit in boiled water for 3 to 5 minutes. *Esmerelda added a hit of lemon juice but disclaimer, she adds a hit of lemon juice to a LOT of stuff. Even so, she said it tasted pretty putrid but then again, this isn’t a tea one makes for enjoyment but rather for the benefits therein.

Today is International Tea Day and of all the soothing remedies known to womankind for menstrual discomfort there is nothing quite as pleasurable and effective as a cup of tea. Accompany that warm tea with a comfy couch, a hot water bottle and a good book and you might not mind being on your period so much and might actually have a moment of divine feminine serenity.

There are a number of different herbal teas that help with menstrual cramps, bloating and other menstrual-related symptoms.

Long known for it's ability to relax muscles and anxiety, chamomile is an excellent tea to enjoy while Aunt Flo is in town but be warned, it has a mild sedative effect on the nervous system and is best enjoyed later in the day or evening.

Chamomile tea is super gentle and highly effective. This is a tea that you can sip from the beginning of your cycle until the end to keep your body, mind, and emotions in a joyful place.

— herbaltealife

Cramp bark is traditionally used for any type of cramping or spasmodic pain including uterine, ovarian, abdominal and back pain which makes this an invaluable herb for women who experience any of these kinds of pain during menstruation.

Black Cohosh is such a powerful herb that a small pinch added to another blend will bring out the benefit of it's pain relieving properties. The root of this herb acts to help soothe and relax the uterine lining. It is best to only use this in your tea while you're actively having your period and not throughout the rest of the month. It's the big guns so remember, a tiny pinch will do you!

This past Sunday, my daughter Ally and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon in downtown Toronto, sharing tea, cupcakes and empowering inspiration courtesy of Faze magazine. Faze is the largest paid circulation magazine in the 12-24 demographic in Canada. Faze is full stories and interviews that appeal to it's teenage readers like current affairs, music, youth culture, careers, health, style, travel and so much more. If you haven't read an issue yet, you can pick one up at your local Indigo or Chapters retailer.

To learn more about Cory Lee, check out her latest music video for her new song 'Boomerang."

Overall, my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed these few hours of insightful and empowering discussions and walked away with smiles on our faces and amazing goodie bags full of fun and interesting swag. If you ever get the chance to attend a live Faze event, I highly recommend you go. You won't be sorry.

The cycle of the moon and the menstrual cycle are closely linked. Below please find the current moon phase. Check what colour bead you're on and then follow along with your bracelet and the moon to gain an even greater understanding of how we are connected.

Code Red is an organization that serves to provide personal care and feminine products to homeless women, while promoting awareness surrounding menstrual hygiene as well as global dangers that affect women at large.